A 34-year-old member asked:
To get invisalign, i found a dentist and orthodontist who are both elite premium provider. would orthodontist be better to treat complicated case?
20 doctor answers • 44 doctors weighed in
Dr. Glenn Maronanswered
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 37 years experience
Yes: Orthodontist will usually be a better option.
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6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Kenneth Zipkin commented
Dentistry 50 years experience
being an elite premium provider is a designation given by Align Technology based on the number of treatments a doctor submits to the company. It has little to do with the doctors capability. Choose your doctor wisely.
Sep 14, 2013
Dr. James Batesanswered
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 38 years experience
Yes!: If you're going to have orthodontic treatment, you should see a fully trained orthodontist, a dental specialist. Invisalign can be successful with fairly straightforward, simple cases, but may not be your best choice for a complicated case. Invisalign isn't for every case. However, an orthodontic specialist can help you determine what would be the best option for your particular problem.
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Woojin Woody Kwonanswered
Dentistry 21 years experience
I would hope so!: Yes. As an expert in orthodontics, he/she would have more tools to use when dealing with complicated cases. But then, complicated cases are not suitable for invisalign. Imho, invisalign is not an end all. It has limitations. Ask, before you begin, if invisalign is the best option for your needs.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Gary Ledermananswered
Dentistry 42 years experience
Not necessarily: If a provider is experienced and diagnoses your case properly, you do not necessarily need an orthodontist. Invisalign cases can be reviewed in collaboration with a specialist if needed or desired. If you know your desired outcome, and monitor movements carefully, general dentists can treat highly complex cases. Ultimately, it is a matter of the doctor that inspires the most confidence.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Arnold Malerman commented
Orthodontics 55 years experience
Generally an Orthodontic Specialist, with over 5,000 hours more formal training in Orthodontics than the GP, and who does nothing but Orthodontics all day long every day (as opposed to slipping an occasional Invisalign case in between doing fillings and extractions), is the practitioner of choice. Research shows the level of care to be higher in the Specialist's practice.
Aug 7, 2016
Dr. Shawn Murrayanswered
Dentistry 17 years experience
Invisalign: Depends on who you talk to. I'm an orthodontist and do my reaction is an orthodontist. All i know is that if i need a heart surgery, i'm going to a heart surgeon and not a general practitioner. I'm sure a thousand dentist will disagree but that's my answer. An orthodontist has had a lot more specialized training that you won't get in a weekend course.
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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Gabriel Maloufanswered
Specializes in Dentistry
Sometimes.: You may find that (depending on what exactly needs to be done) that you have options. Both these providers are probably well advertised and confident. Know that neither advertising nor ego make a good provider, and decide after interviewing them & other dental personnel in the area. Also if you want the best treatment, consider other options: invisalign might not get you there.
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5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. S. jay Bowmananswered
Dentistry - Orthodontics 38 years experience
Orthodontist: The status is based on the number of cases treated, nothing more. An orthodontist is a specialist who attended a 2-3 year residency program and limits their practice to only orthodontics. The orthodontist is familiar with more treatment options beyond just clear aligners. Having a bigger bag of options, more experience with tooth movement, and better education are keys.
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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Arnold Malermananswered
Orthodontics 55 years experience
See specialist: Elite premium provider simply means the general dentist or specialist has ordered a certain number of "cases" in a year, and does not attest to their technical competence. It's harder to treat with clear aligners than with traditional braces because aligners are less than 50% as effective. See a qualified specialist for rx. Understand ortho rx is a service, not a commodity. Go to the pros.
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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Manuel Sousaanswered
Orthodontics 48 years experience
Yes: The orthodontist is trained to treat complicated cases in a highly specialized learning environment. If i were choosing between elite providers i would choose the provider with the most specialized training - orthodontist.
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5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. William Dabneyanswered
43 years experience
Elite provider: Have you researched how they reached this 'status' ? It is given by the manufacturer dependent on how many cases have been submitted by the provider. Why don't you research the doctor yourself? Ask for patient referrals. How many years they have been providing this service. Experience really counts.
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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Robert Rosenberganswered
48 years experience
Yes: The additional training and experience of an orthodontist will, in general, provide a better result of a complicated orthodontic case.
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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Perry Opinanswered
61 years experience
Invisiline: The fact that both providers have achieved an elite status only signifies how many cases the drs. Have done. There is little relationship to a skill level. See the orthodontist. He has the education to properly evaluate your bad bite and design an appropriate treatment plan. Further, if there is an unforeseen problem that requires fixed appliances, he will be able to complete the case.
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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. James Andersonanswered
Dentistry 21 years experience
Orthodontist: Yes, always use an orthodontist for complicated ortho cases. They have two to three years of extra training focusing on orthodontia vs. A general dentist.
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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A Verified Doctoranswered
40 years experience
Orthodontist: Elite has nothing todo with quality of results.It is a financial designation. An orthodontist is specifically trained in all aspects of orthodontia, and invisalign is a flawed and inferior method of orthodontic therapy. After 30 years of being a specialist, i choose not to offer invisalign in my practice. Good luck!
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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Harry Ringer commented
Dentistry 27 years experience
I agree, the ranking has to do with amount done not quality or training. But I would say that the product does have its worth for certain cases when in the right hands. For minor and retention maybe a well trained dentist, but for more than minor I would only have an orthodontist perform the treatment with any of the modalities Invisalign or brackets.
Oct 2, 2013
Dr. Kayvon Javidanswered
Dentistry 22 years experience
Good question: I think here you know the answer yourself. An orthodontist is a specialist for that very reason but never the less there are many general dentist who have extensive training in orthodontics and are well qualified to do the treatment. They will both give you a 3d rendering of the final product called a clincheck and the only difference is in the planning. Do research, go with the one you trust.
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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Harry Ringeranswered
Dentistry 27 years experience
Specialist: Eventhough there are dentist who choose to getting highly trained in specialities i would always go with the "true" specialist. Getting qualified in invisalign does not make you an orthodontist (nothing against this dentist I do not know him). For minor movements i think it is fine but for full mouth alignment, there is more than just what the teeth lol, like when you are done, bite, rootimportant.
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4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Howard Schneideranswered
Pediatric Dentistry 36 years experience
Orthodontist: While both doctors may have the same training from the company that makes invisalign, the orthodontist has specialty training in growth and development, and tooth movement that the other dentist does not have. This gives the orthodontist an overall advantage when it comes to moving teeth. Most dentists i know work with an orthodontist rather then do the invisalign themselves.
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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Hilary Baskinanswered
Orthodontics 30 years experience
Yes: The orthodontist has far more extensive training in tooth movement. Orthodontists should not be doing root canals and dentists should not be doing orthodontics. Stick to using the proper expert, with the proper training for the proper need.
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2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Daniel Quonanswered
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 44 years experience
Yes: Even though many general dentists may provide orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, an orthodontist is a dental specialist who has more postdoctoral training and more experience in training complicated cases. Although Invisalign is a nice concept, it may not be indicated for certain malocclusions. For complex cases, treatment provided by an orthodontist would be strongly recommended.
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2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Paul Grinanswered
Pain Management 38 years experience
See orthodontist: General dentists often refer the more complicated cases to an orthodontist.
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2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 28, 2017
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